Podcast Summary: Mick Unplugged – Turning Fear into Success with Dr. Jay Phipps

Date: September 27, 2025
Host: Mick Hunt ("Realm")
Guest: Dr. Jay Phipps
Episode Theme: Transforming Fear into a Catalyst for Personal and Professional Success

Episode Overview

This episode of Mick Unplugged features a deeply insightful conversation between host Mick Hunt and Dr. Jay Phipps, entrepreneur, leadership coach, and founder of the Freedom from Fear Tour. The discussion centers around understanding the science and impact of fear, practical strategies to overcome it, and ways to use fear as a bridge toward success and fulfillment. Dr. Phipps shares personal stories, actionable frameworks, and leadership lessons applicable to anyone seeking growth—whether in business, relationships, or personal life.

Key Topics & Insights

1. Redefining Fear: Barrier or Bridge?

[00:44]–[01:57]

• "Fear can either be a barrier or a bridge between your dreams and your destiny. So my because is trying to get people to use that as a bridge so they can conquer their fears and reach their destiny."
  – Dr. Jay Phipps ([01:44])
• Dr. Phipps explains his core motivation—helping people leverage fear as a tool for transformation.
• He rejects the notion of being “fearless,” instead advocating for facing and overcoming fear courageously.

2. The ‘Fear Pandemic’ and Its Impact

[02:26]–[04:50]

• Dr. Phipps describes an “aha” moment awakening him to how pervasive and paralyzing fear is in modern society:
  • "90% of people are afraid of failure and won't chase opportunities."
  • Fear restricts innovation, workplace engagement, and personal relationships.
  • Social and professional fears are rampant—fear of judgment, change, speaking up, or failing.
  • Personal context: Dr. Phipps grew up in an environment dominated by fear, which fueled his passion to break the cycle for himself and others.

3. The Freedom from Fear Tour: Facing 100 Fears in a Year

[04:50]–[08:41]

• The tour is Dr. Phipps' ambitious initiative to confront 100 of his own fears, from skydiving and mountain climbing to having tough conversations and medical procedures.
• "I don't really like the term fearless because it's impossible to be fearless, but what you can be is someone that faces fear and has the courage to overcome it."
  – Dr. Jay Phipps ([03:50])
• The goal: to publicly prove scientific findings—most people do better with their fears than they expect; the dread is worse than the experience.
• The “FLIP your fear” model:
  • Face the challenge.
  • Leverage empowerment (e.g., visualization)
  • Initiate bold action ("Action is the antidote for fear.")
  • Pivot and revolutionize your life.

4. Visualization as a Weapon Against Fear

[08:41]–[11:12]

• Visualization is highlighted as a powerful tool to prepare for and diminish fear.
  • "Your brain can't tell the difference between you experiencing it and visualizing it. Your brain is just stored that as a memory either way."
    – Dr. Jay Phipps ([09:14])
• Practical applications: Grounded in sports, business, and public speaking.
• Studies show visualization increases your likelihood of conquering a fear by ~40%.

Host Mick shares tactical advice:

• Envision yourself walking on stage or closing a sale before you do it.
• "If you can win the first three minutes as a speaker, you are going to win the speech."
  – Mick Hunt ([14:22])

5. Building the ‘Fear Muscle’ and Taking Action

[15:06]–[17:37]

• Repetition—both mental (visualization) and physical—helps solidify confidence.
• Each conquered fear rewires the brain and makes the next one easier.
• "You face it, you empower yourself, and then you're 100% ready for action."
  – Dr. Jay Phipps ([17:32])

6. Shifting from Reactive to Proactive Mindset

[17:37]–[19:41]

• Dr. Phipps shares a life-altering medical experience: risk of paralysis taught him to take active control rather than passively accept life’s terms.
• "Am I taking on life or is life taking me on? ...I decided at that moment, I was no longer going to let life control me."
  – Dr. Jay Phipps ([18:30])
• Perspective shift: Seek solutions, not just problems.

7. The Power of Positivity and Culture

[19:41]–[23:06]

• Positive energy in leadership:
  • Be the “thermostat, not the thermometer”—set the tone in any room or team.
  • Story: When faced with a crisis (flooded pharmacy), Dr. Phipps’ team focused on solutions, not problems.
• “Pharmacy Gladiator” mindset—fight for freedom from fear, empower others, and never let fear enslave you.
• "You want to be the thermostat, not the thermometer in the room."
  – Dr. Jay Phipps ([20:50])

8. Leadership, Culture, and Scaling with Heart

[23:06]–[27:45]

• Dr. Phipps’ business, Phipps Pharmacy, is built on a community-centered approach; he prioritizes serving people from all backgrounds equally.
• Scaling while retaining local, personal culture hinges on:
  • Hiring for cultural fit and willingness to change.
  • Open, service-oriented company values.
• "It all goes back to culture. ...If I can get the right people on my team, we can be successful."
  – Dr. Jay Phipps ([26:23])

9. Taking Fearless Action: Practical Advice

[27:45]–[30:08]

• "Find whatever that is holding you back, what's that big fear? Identify it... then take that action to do that one thing."
  – Dr. Jay Phipps ([28:02])
• Action is crucial: each small step against fear strengthens your resolve for bigger challenges.
  • Example: Helping an entrepreneur make the first call toward a major expansion project.
• Don’t let perfectionism, procrastination, or self-doubt keep you stagnant.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “Fear can either be a barrier or a bridge between your dreams and your destiny.”
  – Dr. Jay Phipps ([01:44])

• "Action is the antidote for fear."
  – Dr. Jay Phipps ([07:23])

• “Your brain can't tell the difference between you experiencing it and visualizing it.”
  – Dr. Jay Phipps ([09:14])

• “You want to be the thermostat, not the thermometer in the room.”
  – Dr. Jay Phipps ([20:50])

• "If you can win the first three minutes as a speaker, you are going to win the speech."
  – Mick Hunt ([14:22])

• "When you have freedom, you're unstoppable. You can't be controlled.”
  – Dr. Jay Phipps ([32:49])

Rapid Fire: The Quick Five

[30:08]–[32:57]

• Road snack: Fruit-filled gummies ("We got them for our little one, but I'm the one that eats most of them." – [30:25])
• Mountains or lake for recharge: Mountains ("Going back to the mountains really recharges me." – [30:50])
• Book recommendation: Good to Great by Jim Collins ([31:08])
• Biggest lesson from the tour: Fear impacts people more deeply and broadly than he ever imagined. ([31:36])
• Freedom in one word: Unstoppable ([32:49])

Where to Find Dr. Jay Phipps

• LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram: @pharmacygladiator
• Website: pharmacygladiator.com
• Follow the Freedom from Fear Tour for updates, new challenges, and inspiration.

Conclusion & Call to Action

• The episode delivers a strong, actionable message: Identify your fear, visualize the outcome, and take bold action to build your "fear muscle."
• Listeners are encouraged to make their “because” (purpose) their superpower and to use it to propel themselves beyond fear.
• "Remember your because is your superpower. Go unleash it."
  – Mick Hunt ([33:52])

Recommended for:
Leaders, entrepreneurs, or anyone struggling with fear in business, relationships, or personal growth; those seeking motivational stories, practical neuroscience, and actionable steps to reframe and conquer fear.

Next Steps:

• Visit pharmacygladiator.com to follow the Freedom from Fear Tour.
• Identify a small or large fear in your life and take one step toward confronting it this week.
• Embrace visualization, proactive thinking, and surround yourself with a positive, empowering community.